Mercedes Gleitze and the Rolex Oyster, 1927: first English woman across the Channel on her eighth attempt; a rival's hoax claim; Wilsdorf asked her to wear the new Oyster; worn round her neck; she did not finish, the watch survived
Mercedes Gleitze, Rolex and the Oyster, 1927.
The weekly
NewsletterWeeklyOne email a week. Every post from the week, and what didn't fit on a slide.Free. Never shared. Unsubscribe any time.
The post, as it ran
01ON 7 OCTOBER 1927 MERCEDES GLEITZE BECAME THE FIRST ENGLISH WOMAN TO SWIM THE CHANNEL, ON HER EIGHTH ATTEMPT.
02THEN ANOTHER SWIMMER'S CLAIM CAST DOUBT ON HERS. THAT CLAIM TURNED OUT TO BE A HOAX.
03FOR HER NEXT SWIM, HANS WILSDORF OF ROLEX ASKED HER TO WEAR HIS NEW OYSTER WATCH.
04SHE WORE IT ON A RIBBON AROUND HER NECK.
05SHE DIDN'T FINISH THAT SWIM. THE WATCH SURVIVED IT.